Advocacy is Essential When Applying for Medicaid

As an attorney for Rothkoff Law Group, I help support our Public Benefits staff with complicated Medicaid issues and unexpected application outcomes when applying for Medicaid. As a result, I have found the internal processes of state Medicaid agencies processing Medicaid applications do not always comply with state and federal Medicaid laws, often to the detriment of our clients. For this reason, it is essential to have an advocate when applying for Medicaid for long-term care in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It is worth noting I do not believe the Medicaid agency’s occasional failure to comply with Medicaid rules [...]

2024-03-08T12:14:27-05:00October 21, 2021|

Arbitration Agreements in Nursing Home Admission Contracts

  On October 1st, a federal appeals court decided to uphold restrictions that limit the use of binding arbitration agreements in nursing home admissions agreements. Binding arbitration agreements prior to the rise of any actual dispute have been promoted for decades as a way to reduce expenses by providing an alternative dispute resolution method. When used properly, arbitration agreements can provide the parties with a less expensive forum to solve disputes. However, binding arbitration agreements have also been used by the business community to attempt to limit themselves from potential liability by having a party relinquish their right to bring [...]

2024-03-08T12:15:04-05:00October 8, 2021|

LGBT Advocacy for the Senior Population

In a recent post, our client Services Director, Manon Adcock, referenced the challenges of LGBT advocacy among the aging population. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a SAGECare training Manon had mentioned, along with attorneys Bryan Adler and Roxane Crowley of Rothkoff Law Group. SAGECare is a national organization that offers resources and LGBT advocacy for aging adults. We attended an all-day program that offered cultural competency training for advocating for these individuals. It was an eye-opening experience to hear the history of LGBT advocacy groups and the ongoing challenges LGBT seniors experience. Their trainings are available [...]

2024-03-08T12:23:58-05:00July 15, 2021|

The Importance of Nursing Home Communication

The importance of nursing home communication and relaying information clearly is a key consideration for anyone entering a home and for family members involved in the process. Good nursing home communication helps ensure you or your loved one, as well as nursing home staff, are all on the same page together. Deciding whether it is best for mom or dad to move to a nursing home is a very difficult decision. Their well-being and safety are your primary goals, especially in these times of Covid. After considering other options, sometimes a nursing home is the only solution. Once the decision [...]

2024-03-08T12:26:09-05:00June 25, 2021|

Aging with PRIDE: LGBT Aging and Advocacy

LGBT aging and advocacy can be an ongoing issue for seniors as they make new transitions in their lives. From medical care to social roadblocks in assisted living facilities, LGBT aging is an important topic for all, whether or not you find yourself a part of this community. As we all know, aging is not something we can avoid. There are ways we can slow the progression by which we age, such as by exercising and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but eventually, we all get there. Working with seniors, I have seen 90-year-olds that look 60 and 60-year-olds that look [...]

2024-03-08T12:26:26-05:00June 17, 2021|

There is No Place for Politics in Elder Care Law

It is my personal opinion that there is no place for politics in elder care law. I recently discussed the election during a dinner conversation with a friend. We discussed our political views and opinions. He correctly observed he never sees political opinions on my Facebook or LinkedIn pages. He inquired why I chose not to engage in a political discussion, suggesting whether it was because I wanted to be perceived as apolitical from a business perspective. In a way, he was right, but not for the reasons he thought. Many years ago, I represented an elderly stroke survivor whose [...]

2024-03-08T12:34:56-05:00November 11, 2020|

Life Lessons From Two Decades Advocating for Seniors

On February 1, 2000, I began a journey to an unknown destination. On this day twenty years ago, I opened my elder care law office. If you were to tell me twenty years later we would expand to six offices in NJ and PA, employ thirty team members, including five attorneys and six geriatric social workers, establish groundbreaking elder care symposiums in NJ & PA, receive numerous awards and recognition for our firm’s advocacy for seniors, and teach other attorneys across the United States how to engage in legal advocacy for seniors, I would not have believed it. Last month, [...]

2024-03-08T12:41:08-05:00January 8, 2020|

What are the Different Types of Caregivers?

Looking to procure a caregiver for a loved one? Between deciding amongst the myriad of home care agencies and selecting the appropriate type of attendant, hiring a private caregiver can feel overwhelming. Here we break down the different types of caregivers to assist you in your search. There are several different types of caregivers who provide services to older adults and individuals with disabilities and age-related medical conditions.  Family members often take on the role of primary caregiver for a loved one while receiving no financial reimbursement, but when that role is no longer feasible, a person becomes faced with [...]

2024-03-08T12:42:56-05:00June 17, 2016|

New Jersey CARE Act Signed by Governor Christie to Assist Family Caregivers

Last week, Governor Christie signed into law the New Jersey CARE Act, which will benefit caregivers and their families.  The CARE Act is an acronym for Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable. The law will go into effect 180 days after the governor signed the law. The New Jersey CARE Act addresses the problems family members have when their loved one is discharged from the hospital.  Often, a patient requires follow-up that family members are not trained to provide. For example, there may be a need to change dressings, monitor medication, or provide personal care, in which an adult child or spouse [...]

2024-03-08T12:44:52-05:00November 23, 2014|
Go to Top